167 
On the Cultivation and Manufacture of 
'Woad. 
Balls ton, March 28 th, 1814. 
Dear Sir, 
Believing that the cultivation of the Woad plant in this 
country, may be very useful in our woollen manufactures, 
and a profitable branch of husbandry hereafter, I take the 
liberty of transcribing a paper on the cultivation and manu¬ 
facture of Woad, by Mr. John Parish, extracted from the 
Bath and West of England Agricultural Society’s papers of 
1811. 
I am, Sir, 
With great esteem, 
Your obedient servant, 
WM. W. MORRIS. 
Simeon DeWitt, Esq. 
Woad is a plant which combined with Indigo gives the 
best and most permanent blue dye hitherto discovered. It 
is of great importance to our commerce as well as agricul¬ 
ture, being in nature one of the best preparers of land for a 
corn crop that has hitherto been discovered ; and if the land 
is properly chosen for it and well managed, will be found 
very profitable, more particularly at this time when its price 
is advanced to an almost unprecedented degree; therefore 
I conceive that in rendering its cultivation and preparation 
better known and understood it may be greatly beneficial to 
the nation. 
I have the honor to be a member of the Bath and West 
of England Agricultural Society, where many noble and ex¬ 
alted characters unite their talents to promote the public 
